Crawford County's Promise

Town Hall Meeting alerts community on underage drinking issues

Prevention Specialist Stacie Anderson and Independent Evaluator Dr. Gay Parish review local data about underage drinking in Crawford County.

Prairie du Chien Mayor Cheryl Mader opened the Town Hall meeting.

Community leaders and concerned citizens came together on March 28th to address underage drinking in Crawford County at a town hall meeting at Prairie du Chien City Hall. "Town Hall Meeting: The Impact of Underage Drinking in Our Area," was one of 21 in Wisconsin and 1200 across the nation. The goals of the event were to educate citizens on the local impact of underage drinking and engage them in the solution.

Mayor Cheryl Mader opened the meeting with an overview of the problem, citing data, and outlining social issues related to underage drinking.

Following the Mayor's address was a panel of local experts, each with a different perceptive.

Jane Schaaf, Family Living Agent for University of Wisconsin Extension, talked about brain development and the impact underage drinking has on the developing teen brain. Schaaf explained that while the majority of the brain is developed by age six, the teen years "are the second busiest time in brain growth." Alcohol consumption during the teen years interferes with the healthy growth of the brain, which will not be fully developed until age 25. Schaaf also overviewed scientific studies illustrating that teens and adults use different parts of their brain when making difficult decisions and problem solving. This is why, she explained, teens are more impulsive and more likely to make decisions based on peer influence rather than logic and information.

C.A.R.E. Prevention Specialist Mary Sprosty outlined programs offered in Crawford County, and the theories that drive the program. She discussed the concept of normative beliefs, or the myth that "everyone is doing it," and why this is such a powerful influence on underage drinking.

Dr. Gay Parish and Dr. Tom Parish, Upper Iowa University, overviewed local data as it relates to underage alcohol consumption in Crawford County. Two identical surveys, conducted in 2003 and 2005, showed that alcohol consumption was down in high school students, but also indicated that
students were starting at a much earlier age.

Crawford County District Attorney Tim Baxter talked about the law, outlining the legal consequences for underage drinking. Baxter also commended local prevention efforts, citing data that showed a decline in underage drinking among 17-18 year old students.

State Farm Insurance Agent Dean Achenbach outlined insurance penalties for underage drinking and OMVI offences. Achenbach also talked about a program, titled "Steer Clear," in which agents complete a workbook and video program with new teen drivers. Achenbach said the program has been so successful in promoting clean driving records, that teens that complete the program are
given a 15% discount on insurance rates in Wisconsin.

Prairie du Chien High School students Melissa Weymiller and Sam Esterlein shared their perspectives on local drinking behavior among their peers. The students talked about where students were obtaining alcohol, what they were drinking, when, and where.

Weymiller said students already have brand preferences, although when access is limited they will drink what they can. Esterlein said students tend to drink on gravel roads, in vehicles, and often travel more than an hour away to find a remote place to party. Both students said that while not all teens are drinking, every social group within the high school has several people who drink regularly.

The Town Hall Meeting was sponsored by the Crawford Abuse Resistance Effort (C.A.R.E.) and Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. To learn more about C.A.R.E. programs call 608-357-2083 or email at carecncl@mhtc.net